Visitor Information
Explore the Capital’s Conservation Park! Gatineau Park is home to unique eco-systems and many plants and animals at risk. Learn about the park’s ecology and heritage while enjoying a great variety of outdoor recreation activities. Gatineau Park is an outdoor paradise just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa.
Visitor Centres
Gatineau Park Visitor Centre
33 Scott Road
Old Chelsea QC J9B 1R5
info@ncc-ccn.ca
819-827-2020
Toll-free: 1-800-465-1867
613-239-5090 (TTY)
Toll-free: 1-866-661-3530 (TTY)
Gatineau Park Welcome Area
The P3 parking lot on the Gatineau Parkway (corner of Gamelin Boulevard)
Hours of Service
Visitor Centre
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, except on December 25 (12 pm to 5 pm)
Gatineau Park Welcome Area (P3 Parking Lot)
Summer Hours (Victoria Day Weekend to August 24, 2012)
- Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Fall Hours (August 25 to October 14, 2012)
- Open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
- Open Labour Day (September 3, 2012) from 10 am to 5 pm
- Open Thanksgiving Monday (October 8, 2012) from 10 am to 5 pm
Updates on Conditions
Facilities and Services
Visitor Centre
- Information officers
- Permanent exhibit — Gatineau Park: Protecting Nature and Sharing Our History
- Temporary seasonal exhibits
- Lunch room
- Washrooms
- Boutique where you can buy Gatineau Park books, maps and souvenirs
- Meeting rooms
- Parking
- Universally accessible
Welcome Area
- Information officers
- Interpretation panels
- Maps
- Dry toilets
- Parking
- Universally accessible
Other Services
- Event Permits
- Wedding Permits
- Land Access Permits
- Mackenzie King Tearoom — 819-827-3405
Fees
Summer (Mid-May to Mid-October)
There is a vehicle access fee for those parking at the Gatineau Park beaches and the Mackenzie King Estate. The fee is paid at the parking lot (cash only).
Gatineau Park Beach Vehicle Access Fees — Day Pass
- $10 — car
- $30 — minibus (20 passengers or less)
- $50 — bus
Mackenzie King Estate Vehicle Access Fees — Day Pass
- $8 — car
- $30 — minibus (20 passengers or less)
- $50 — bus
- Free for school groups participating in guided or non-guided activities at the Mackenzie King Estate.
Summer Season’s Pass
You can buy a season’s pass that gives access to all Gatineau Park beaches, Leamy Lake beach, and the Mackenzie King Estate. This costs $70 per car and can be bought at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre as well as online through the Demsis website.
Winter
A pass is required for cross-country skiers. Daily ski passes and season ski passes can be bought at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre. Season ski passes can also be bought online through the Demsis website.
Getting Around
Weekend Road Closures
NCC Saturday Short Loops: May 26 to October 27, 2012
Sections of the Gatineau Parkway are closed to cars and other motorized traffic every Saturday morning until 11 am. The section of the Gatineau Parkway north of Lac-Meech Road is closed until 1 pm.
The NCC Saturday Short Loops Google map shows alternate routes for cars.
Alcatel-Lucent Sunday Bikedays: May 20 to September 2, 2012
Throughout the summer season, all parkways in Gatineau Park are closed to cars and other motorized traffic on Sunday mornings until 11 am. The section of the Gatineau Parkway north of Lac-Meech Road is closed until 1 pm.
Seasonal Road Closures
Although Gatineau Park is open all year long, some access roads and the parkways are closed during the winter. Gatineau Park’s parkways are converted into cross-country ski trails each winter.
| Winter Road Closure | Spring Road Reopening | |
|---|---|---|
Gatineau Park parkways (Gatineau, Champlain, and Fortune Parkways) |
Fourth Sunday in October, at 5 pm | First Friday in May, at noon |
Philippe Lake access road (P19 parking lot is accessible all year) |
Thanksgiving Monday, at 5 pm | Mid-May (noon on the day the Philippe Lake Campground reopens) |
La Pêche Lake access road |
Thanksgiving Monday, at 5 pm | Mid-May (noon on the day the La Pêche Lake Campground reopens) |
Luskville Falls access road |
Fourth Sunday in October, at 5 pm | Last Friday in April, at noon |
| Note: These dates may change without notice. | ||
Parking
Parking lots are located throughout the park. During the summer there is a vehicle access fee for parking at the beaches and the Mackenzie King parking lots, but all other parking lots offer free parking. Parking is free in the winter.
Maps
You can get print maps at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, the Gatineau Park Welcome Area and the Capital Information Kiosk.
Universal Accessibility
There are universally accessible options for each type of experience at Gatineau Park. These include scenic lookouts, walking trails, picnic areas, beaches, campsites and the Mackenzie King Estate. The Points of Interest and Things to Do pages offer more detailed accessibility information.
Guided and Self-guided Tours
Gatineau Park offers a number of guided and self-guided tours. There are also tours at the Mackenzie King Estate.
Safety and Conservation
When visiting Gatineau Park:
- Tell someone where you are going
- Stay on the trail
- Do not feed the animals
- Stay away from large animals and make a noise to avoid surprising them
- Take out all that you bring into the Park.
Please help protect Gatineau Park and leave no trace.
Share the Road
Many different users enjoy the roads in Gatineau Park. Please obey the rules of the road and be considerate of other users so that all can enjoy these scenic parkways.
Cars and other motorized vehicles:
- Obey the speed limit.
- Use caution when passing cyclists: maintain a minimum distance of one metre. To do so, it may be necessary to drive somewhat over the yellow line.
- Park only in designated areas.
Bikes:
- Ride in single file.
- Keep groups to a maximum of 15 cyclists.
- Obey stop signs.
